*After The Cleanse*

[Sim]

Hi Everyone~
Oh, I'm so annoyed! I had written a long response to everyone and my computer went kablooey! Well, I'm stubborn, so take this, computer!!!

Res~ I will happily join you all on the Challenge thread...maybe we should think of this not as a challenge but as a TEMPORARY commitment. Challenge implies that one may fail. WE WILL NOT FAIL! Know why? Because it's only temporary (heh,heh) and all of us can do anything for a short, finite amount of time, right?

Happy~ The absolute best sandwich I ever had was a fried oyster po'boy in New Orleans, washed down with a Muffaletta from Central Deli, followed by beignets and café au lait at Café du Monde. I will never forget that, ever. The memory of how they tasted is firmly in my head and heart BUT I would not be tempted to eat that way again! I know I must be weird, but the other memory of how sluggish I used to feel, the heartburn and reflux I used to have, the thirty extra pounds that used to be a part of me...all those things are more powerful motivators to live raw than the memory of delicious food. I can have that food in my head any time I want and still feel healthy because I eat raw. The South has the best food ever, so I know it's hard for you, but try it and see if you can just do a little more raw. Then maybe it will lead to more. And if not, not. You're still terrific for even thinking about how to be healthier. I don't know if a longer cleanse helps or not. I did a 40 day cleanse because I'm an excessive person and I loved the feeling I had the whole time I had my lemonade. I almost didn't want to give it up! But I had never been a vegetarian, never even knew Raw existed, so I don't think the longer cleanse caused me to go Raw. I researched while I was cleansing, looking for a better way. That's all, and I never intended to be a totally raw eater, yet here I am, 100% since January 19.

Mouse~ You are so on the money! Eating cooked food is not like eating poison so don't worry about that aspect....it's just that you [I]could[I] be eating something raw that would be better. In the beginning, it seems easier to throw a steak on a grill or the broiler than chopping or blending. On those days, I ate a salad with some special ingredient for interest...like daikon or broccoli rabe, jicama, avocado, maybe even just a new salad dressing. But if you should find that you really want meat or chicken or something, then have it and don't feel bad. My 27 year old daughter did a 30 day cleanse and decided to do raw with me....she loved it. Then she had a boyfriend "problem" and had coffee...then cake...then hamburgers. After two weeks of that, she decided that falling off the raw wagon seemed like a good idea at the time but it was making her miserable because she felt so stuffed up and full in a bad way. She's back to raw, voluntarily...(as long as I'm making the meals!) and loving the difference in how she feels.

Everyone in my family is incredulous that I'm Raw. Me, the cavegirl, eating whole sides of beef if given the chance! Me, the lady who's read and used every Gourmet and Southern Living magazine and new cookbook that's come down the pike. I love to cook and I love to eat. But I just can't believe the combinations that make some of the most delicious food I have ever tasted. Tonight I made Juliano's Mac Cream to go over my zucchini pasta. It was unbelievable and easy to make...and we had it with Matt Amsden's Thai Curry soup, a beautiful and tasty concoction that knocked my socks off. Who would ever have known that nuts, lemon juice, garlic and spices could tast so incredible? Give Raw a chance...although the coolest thing is that you can go to any grocery store and buy fruits and veggies and be raw, you can also indulge in your gourmet side or cavegirl side and find raw recipes that satisfy every craving you could have. I just can't believe it. Neither can anyone who knows me, but here I am

Res~ one more thing: go buy new jeans, but don't spend a lot of money; you'll need smaller ones in a couple of weeks!

Love you wiseguys...you all totally rock!

[mtmouse]

Love you wiseguys...you all totally rock!

And Sim: YOU rock!

[laurel]

In case anyone was wondering if it's a good idea to eat ONE tiny piece of bread with your soup....it's NOT!!!

**poot**

I'm just sayin' hello to the board. It's a beautiful day and this fresh pineapple is super awesome and my jeans don't fit anymore! weeee!

[osalazar]

Good Day All!

I'm on my first day post MC, and was not clear as to how much OJ I"m supposed to drink for all day today. Can someone let me know? I"m drinking a lot of water and little OJ will this prolong the recover to solid foods?

Also, I'd like to start my veggie soup today, good or bad Idea, since I've been drinking mor water than OJ?

Thanks for any advice.

[Res]

Sim: Kathy's right You do rock!

Ahh yes, how did you know I needed new jeans? Have to wait until I can get "other things" under control.

Laurel: lol, Live and learn, huh?

osalazar: It's probably too soon unless you have the will power to just sip the broth. Let me tell ya, one bite with lead to two, two to the next two and then a bowl later you're looking for what else you can eat. I'm not kidding you end up wanting to taste EVERYTHING. So the longer you can hold off the better for your stomach. It's probably not what you wanted to hear but I hope it helps.

Love,
~Res

[Sim]

Res, Kathy~
I'm blushing
I don't know if I rock, but I do know that I've been accused of having rocks in my head!
It's been pouring in CT and I'm kicking myself for not having planted the flowers and strawberry plants I bought last week...ah well, there's always tomorrow!
Have a day filled with good thoughts, then eat something raw but satisfying.
More later....

[peanutterb]

just finished up a 32 day fast. today is my first day of juice. starting raw on sun/ mon.
just dropping by and saying hi.

[laurel]

Congratulations, Peanut! What an inspiration you are!

So another odd/uncharacteristic thing happened to me again last night...I wonder if this has happened to any of you post-cleanse. So I've had the flu all week, and haven't been able to get ANYTHING done (I work for myself, so it's really important for me to stay on top of things) and last night I just had a total breakdown. At first it seemed like I was crying because I was frustrated about being sick, and impatient to get well again. Then I was just sobbing uncontrollably, like almost trying to cry out every tear in my body. It was very surreal...

I'm about a week post-cleanse, still eating only whole fruits and vegetables. Do you think I might still be doing a little emo-detox? I am definitely not a cry-er usually!

[Res]

A little Levity

As I've Matured

[Sim]

A little Levity

As I've Matured

Res, those are some funny lines!
Peanutterb~ Yay! 32 days: you're clean!! I bet that OJ will taste great tomorrow! You are Peanutter-super-b!

Laurel Could be de-tox...did you feel really great when it was all over? I use that as my yardstick. Like when you're on the MC and you feel sort of icky until the salt water kicks in...then you eliminate and suddenly the world is a much better place. I hope you're feeling so much better now. Being sick is a drag, and the flu is the worst, as so many people here can testify. Glad you were able to write about it...it will probably help someone who will go through the very same thing in the future.

I can't stop eating. This has just got to be hormonal craziness. Of course, I've replaced candy and cake with salad and medjools...but if you eat enough of those suckers, you can get awfully sick! Don't try it...take my word for it